James Bobin Talks Directing “MIB 23”

“The Muppets” director James Bobin has confirmed that he’s set to direct “MIB 23,” the upcoming franchise crossover between “21 Jump Street” and “Men in Black” at Sony Pictures.

Appearing at the “Alice Through the Looking Glass” junket in London this week which he also helmed, Bobin confirmed he’ll definitely be taking the reins for the unusual crossover, telling Coming Soon:

“Yes, it’s very early stages, obviously, but I’ve always loved the ‘Men in Black’ world. Channing [Tatum] and Jonah [Hill] in ’21 Jump Street’ are just so funny. Those guys and their world makes me laugh every time I think about it. That’s always a good sign for a film.”

In a separate interview for Cinema Blend, he says the trick was hitting the right tonal balance but says that the script does an effective job of that:

“The challenge is a tonal challenge. It really is. Because both worlds are so fantastic, and then it’s one of those things where you think, ‘How is this possibly going to work?’ And then you read the script and go, ‘I get it! This is amazing!’ It’s fantastic and it’s really fun.

In a way I’m trying to imagine neither of those things exist before, and then what would it be together, and that ends with a very interesting place to be. But I love both worlds very much, and Jonah [Hill] and Channing [Tatum] are hilarious, so they’ll be just, you know!”